New GPS user. A big thank you to this website and its members. Plus a few questions.

1) I use a SD card to add an addtional topo map to my nuvi for use on Forest Roads. I don't use mp3 files or other audio/image files, so if you're like me but don't need a topo map, skip adding a SD card for now and add one when you find a need for it.

2) The next map update (2011.20) may come out in late July after your 60 days expires. Note that the 60-day window doesn't start with the date of your registration, but starts ticking roughly with it's first moving satellite fix. So update to the new 2011.10 map now (unless that's the map you already have). If you plan future map updates, watch here for tips on when a vendor like Amazon.com has a particularly great deal on the OneTime or Lifetime map updates.

Hi Craig

Thanks for the answers, very helpful indeed.

I will take your advice and update the map now.

The map info says I have CN North America NT 2010.10 installed.

Obviously looks at least 1 year out of date.

Thanks for the tip on keeping an eye out for deals on future map upgrades.

1) you can get a manual for your unit at
http://www8.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp

2) As soon as you can, you should hook your 255 to you computer. It should show up in Windows Explorer as "Garmin Nuvi". Create a new folder on your PC. You could call it something like C:\Garmin Backup 20100605. Go to the Garmin Nuvi drive (let's say it is drive G:\. Select Drive G:\ in the left pane. Then click in the right pane of Explorer and do a CNTL-A to select everything. Still in the right pane do a CNTL-C to copy everything. Navigate back to the folder C:\Garmin Backup 20100605. Click in the right pane and CNTL-V to paste everything. Now, whatever happens, you have a backup.

3) I think that you have enough internal memory for now. I have loaded a number of POI files and they used less than 30 meg.

4) Register at Garmin and see how long you have until your free map update expires. You need to know what map is on your unit.Tools > Settings > System > About.

I use an SD Card for storing poi files. Since I update them sometimes weekly I'm writing to the SD Card rather than the garmin's memeory. I believe this may help the garmin last longer as the memory isn't being rewritten as often.

Additionally - you may want to consider deleting any files from the unit that take up space like foreign voice files, keyboard files, etc. This will provide more available internal memory on your unit.

Is plenty of time getting used to using the little beast!

Figure out a good place to mount it (but be willing to move it around the first few weeks -- you may find a better spot the second or third try).

Get used to using it for traffic, for getting from place to place -- do this in an environment you know, so you don't have the added pressure of relying on it to get you somewhere you've never been before. Practice in a friendly, safe environment!

If someone else is going to help you navigate, have them practice as well -- doing things like entering addresses, changing routes, answering questions about routes, all that fun stuff. That way as you're driving along, if you ask, "Is there a Sam's Club close by?" they'll know how to get you an answer (and possibly a route).

Have fun!

Welcome to the site. I use a SD card in my 250 for me POI files and yes update your maps and get to know your GPS. Try a place you know how to get to and see how the GPS wants to take you there, also use the different avoidance's to get used to the quirks.

RE: backing up to your C drive, do so before deleting any files from the GPS (earlier in the thread, someone suggested deleting some files you may think you will never use). If you are like me, shortly after you delete something, you will find that you need it!

Also, be sure to do the back up when you have plenty of time. Due to the slow speed of the Garmin device, the back up can take 30-60 minutes depending on several factors.

Congrats on getting your first GPS. You will love it!

It is a good idea to have backup copy on a sd card or external drive.Just in case the computer goes blank.

Welcome aboard! In addition to Searching our site, you may want to check out one of our members site - Gary Hayman's site is a great resource.

http://home.comcast.net/~ghayman3/garmin.gps/pageinfo.htm

Hi All

Wow, thank you all very much for the very helpful/friendly advice.

There are some great tips in this thread that will prove very useful.

Just as an update I did register my device at Garmin but ran into a problem the hopefully can be sorted out when customer service open on monday.

As I already mentioned I bought the unit re-furbished

When I went to register the unit it told me it had already been registered July 3rd 2009! and the free map update had expired in Aug 2009

After talking with the company I purchased it from they said it was unusual and to contact Garmin on monday.
They are also willing to go on a 3-way conference call if Garmin wont give me the free map update.
Obviously without the free map update, buying refurbished is not very attractive.

At first they suggested I might have to return the unit which I hope to avoid if Garmin pulls through on monday......

Wish me luck.

Have a copy of your receipt ready to fax or e-mail to them. Garmin is usually pretty good about working through this type of issue.

So far my experience with Garmin has not been super positive.

I tried calling but they give a minimum wait time of "at least" 30 mins.
(i gave up after a long wait)

They even have a 30 min wait on the lines for people wishing to buy products from them?

I sent an email which says i should get a reply within "3 days!"

Is this normal?

I am used to dealing with big companies that you can often get through to or get back to you pretty quickly?

Sounds like if you have an urgent problem on the road you are SOL.

The wait times and e-mail response times you quote are pretty typical. I worked in the IT field for 34 years and 30 minute hold times in technology companies is not unusual. Garmin's customer service reputation is above average IMHO.

When you sent your e-mail inquiry, did you attach a copy of your receipt? If so, they might be able to enable your map download without additional back-and-forth communications.

Ok, fair enough.

I could not send them an attachment as their online form does not allow it.

I did give them the order number and company I bought the unit from.

The company also tried contacting them but also had little luck getting hold of anyone.

I will try again later this afternoon.

I expect, with proper documentation, that you will get a map update. But only one, so it would be wise to determine your update window and not rush to grab the current one if a newer one is coming out in the window. Be clear with the Garmin support tech that this is your intention and they should not "jump the gun" on this.

As to internal memory or SD card, I suggest that you use the internal memory for POIs and only add an SD card if you find a need for one, such as extra maps such as "topo" maps. True, flash memory has finite write cycles, but currently that is tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of cycles. It can be burnt out if you improperly use it in some fast changing applications, but for POI use in a GPS, this just isn't going to be a problem. You could rewrite all of your POI files daily and never come close to hitting the flash cycle life. So don't rush to buy an SD card, you can take your time and wait for a sale on a high capacity device, and you may really never use one at all.

Welcome to the site. There are many people here to assist you with any questions you may have.

Thanks for all the replies.

I did manage to get hold of Garmin support this afternoon after a 45 min wait on hold.

Once I talked with a support person they were very helpful and installed a map update on my account within a few minutes, which I am now downloading.

Thanks again for all the great advice in this thread, its been very useful.

I have been downloading POI like crazy.

I have an unrelated question as I found POI on just about everything apart from free WIFI. (country wide)

As certain resturants/coffee shops such as McDonalds and Panera bread all have free Wifi, wouldn't it make sense to combine all the places that have free internet into a big mass WIFI file.

This would make it easier to search if all you are looking for is a hotspot.

I know my way around Excel a little so I am think of having a go, is this a good idea?

As you state, so many places now are offering free wifi why would you bother duplicating lists?

To me it's just easier to know Mickey Dee's and others have free wifi. If I need a connection I can look them up and go.

Maybe I am wrong, but I found a vast number of differnt chains offering Wifi.

My point is a master list would search ALL the places with WIFI instead of having to do individual searches on each resturant/office supply chain.

Surely that would be quicker if all you are looking for are close WIFI hotspots?

My plan was to try and find out every group or chain that offers free WIFI and put them in one big custom POI.

There are a lot of locations that have the free WIFI.Just looking at this list that you can break it down by chains http://www.wififreespot.com/ .